Good or Evil--Call it What You Will
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they label all of us
People are jumping off the fence and they’re landing on
the right—or is it far right—maybe left, far left, or right-center, maybe
left-center? Depending on which news affiliate a person listens to, or which
up-and-coming blog he or she reads, one of the labels mentioned above will be
used to describe a person’s stance on moral and immoral issues. These people
however, are not set in stone at these positions. It is being spoken often
how a person of the far-left will be moving in the direction of the
left-center camp—or someone of the far-right is moving to the center. (So,
where does that put the person who has left the group from the far-left and
is moving to the left-center, but just hasn’t made it there yet? I know:
far-mid-left-of-center! Whew! That took some real ciphering!) hurt feelings can mean life
instead of death
The American media, and those who discuss these groups,
will continue to give these positions of personal values many different
names. However, God refers to these groups of people as “good and evil” as
quoted in Hebrews 5:14: “But solid food is for those who are full grown, who
by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.” The
writer of Hebrews is speaking of food as the knowledge obtained, and the
moral values created, by knowing the Word of God. Call it what you will, a
person’s moral or immoral values place him or her in a group which represents
good or evil.
Those of faith don’t like to discuss the concept of “good
and evil” because they don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. But, it needs to
be discussed because it can mean the difference between life and death. Yes,
this is serious! Knowing Jesus Christ is the most important relationship a
person can engage. Knowing the difference between good and evil is probably
the next most important. To face the Lord on judgment day and hear Him say,
“I never knew you,” is a thought no person wants to entertain. Therefore, to
learn what “good and evil” represents is a matter of life or death! I am the sinner
To look inward and see what each of us represents, whether
it is good or evil, is the place to begin. We need to look at our own moral
values to see if our thinking and our actions are based on good, and to be
assured that we will stand firm in times of temptation. In August of 1890,
Charles Spurgeon reminded us of Daniel’s values when he was tempted by the
King, “He [Daniel] would not yield even in a small point to that which was
evil. Young man, if God greatly loves you, he will give you an early
decision, and very likely he will put you to an early test. If you are
greatly loved, you will stand firm, even about so small a thing as what you
eat and drink, or something that looks less important than that. You will
say, ‘I cannot sin against God. I must stand fast, even in the smallest
matter, in keeping the law of the Lord my God.’ If thou art enabled to do
that, thou art a man greatly beloved.” there is no grey area
How do we know if we represent what is good or if we’re
living for the one who spreads evil? There is a very solid format for
recognizing how we’re doing and it’s as profound as falling out of a tree. “Even
so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil
fruit. A good tree can't produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree
produce good fruit,” said Jesus, in Matthew 7:17-18. If what I am doing or
saying will produce something good for everyone involved, then I’m probably
OK. However, if there is a slim chance that someone, somewhere, might be hurt
because of what I’m involved in, then it doesn’t represent good. And, if it
doesn’t represent good—there’s no gray area here—it represents evil. evil will die
So, what happens to those who represent evil? “Every tree
that doesn't grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire,”
continued Jesus in Matthew 7:19. Our Lord didn’t hide anything when He was
telling us how to treat other people, how to live our lives, and the fact
that others will know us by the fruit we bear. If we’re producing fruit that
is harmful to others or God, then we’re going to be chopped down and there’s
no getting past it. our lives depend on it
We must take this message seriously as our lives depend on it.
Forget which so-called camp others may say that we’re a part. Forget about
who’s left and who’s right, who’s liberal and who’s conservative. The
important fact is: are we living our lives to represent good or evil? In
other words, are we hurting others by what we say and by our actions, or are
we helping them? Jesus was still speaking about “good and evil” in Matthew
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